The Quilting

I consider the thread as the 'paint'. Samples work really well for me. I can audition what thread and flower shape looks best.

The Quilting Inspiration

I'm ready to quilt, so what will it be? I like to quilt flowers the best!

Inspiration

Paris

Vermont Quilt Festival

We Painted and Foiled

Vermont Quilt Festival

Vermont Quilters are GREAT! We made Eye Candies.

It's always about the Color!

The Chinese love color, so do I!

Quilters on the Rock

Quilters on the Rock quilting guild meets in beautiful Coupville WA. I was happy to present a program and Bead Candy workshop for their members!

Road Trip

Always new surprises down the road. Visited the new location for Fabric Crush. It's in the Wallingford Center, 1815 N 45th Street, #217. 206.432.9929.
The cute, well lit shop features fabric, books, patterns and classes.

A Few of My Favorite Things

The Bottom Line by Superior Threads; quilting, embroidery, bobbin, binding,and appliqué.
Comes in 55 colors and is 60 wt. lint-free polyester. Its smooth surface allows it to work well with metallic threads. The smoothness of the filament poly thread does not snag or grab the top thread. If you've had trouble using metallics, give it a try.

Shiva brand oil paint sticks
Make elegant fabric with the look of airbrushing! Paint sticks applied to silk or cotton are simple, fun and permanent.

Cotton and cotton blend battings
Sticks to other cotton; thin; can be machine quilted & shrunk to produce antique looking quilts or to hide quilting stitches; comfortable to sleep under; it breathes. Cotton endures and will not beard like polyester. A good choice if “shadow through” from the quilt back is a problem. Cotton, bonded or glazed batting won't pull apart and needs to 'relax' after removal from the packaging.

Golden Threads quilting paper
For use with the No-Marking Method to create tear away stencils. The paper tears away cleanly and easily without pulling out your stitches.

Starch

I like to starch my fabric. I prefer to use concentrated liquid starch, purchased at a big box store. A heavy solution of 50% water to 50% starch. Spraying the starch to warm fabric, makes the fabric firm faster.

• With aerosol cans I must wait for the foam to sink in...waiting just isn't in my vocabulary!

Why starch?

• I prefer to work with firm fabric.

• It stabilizes bias edges
• Stabilizes light weight fabrics
• Stabilizes fabric for some decorative stitching
  

I starch after washing, piecing and the final pressing of the top. And any other time I think it necessary!

• Be aware that bugs like to eat the starch!

To remove starch build-up from your iron, place a couple of wet paper towels in the sink add the HOT iron and wipe!